Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,884.73
    +74.07 (+0.37%)
     
  • AIM

    743.26
    +1.15 (+0.15%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1707
    +0.0013 (+0.11%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2622
    -0.0000 (-0.00%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    55,788.89
    +640.73 (+1.16%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • DOW

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,351.63
    +183.56 (+0.46%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,205.81
    +1.00 (+0.01%)
     

How to see all the terrifying things Google knows about you

Google knows every search you've made, where you've used the internet and how old you are
Google knows every search you've made, where you've used the internet and how old you are

We have come to accept that the technology we interact with on a daily basis is tracking and recording our every move. 

Your iPhone knows everywhere you've been, Google Maps is always tracking your location, and Facebook has built a detailed character profile of all its users.  

By following these five steps you can see just how much Google knows about you, your interests, the places you have visited, and your search habits.  

1. Go to history.google.com/history

Google search web and app activity - Credit: Google
Credit: Google

2. Make sure you're logged into a Google account

Google only saves the searches you have made while logged into an unrestricted Google account. While it might not have every search you've ever made, it can give you a pretty accurate picture of your browsing habits. 

3. Select the down arrow next to "last week" and change it to "all time" 

Google web and app activity - Credit: Google
Credit: Google

4. Browse your more recent search history by selecting "last month" and "last year"

Google web and app activity - Credit: Google
Credit: Google

5. Delete your browsing data

You can delete the search data Google has stored for you by clicking the three dots on the top right hand side of the window and selecting "Delete options". It gives you the immediate option to delete data from "Today" and "Yesterday". If you click "Advanced" it then lets you delete information from the last four weeks or "All time". 

Google web apps and browsing - Credit: Google
Credit: Google

6. Google knows where you've been 

Google timeline search history  - Credit: Google
Credit: Google

If you click the three dots in the top right hand corner of the window and select "Settings" then "Show more controls" you can "Manage Activity" under the "Places you Go" tab. If you don't have location services turned off this will show you a map of all of the places where you have used your mobile device. This is part of Google's Timeline, which it launched last year

7. See how old Google thinks you are

Google search history - Credit: Google
Credit: Google

If you scroll to the bottom of the "Activity controls" page and select "Ads" you can see the profile Google has for you, including a rough age range, your gender, and your interests. If you don't agree with the profile Google has created for you, then you can change it to make it more (or less) accurate. This affects the adverts you'll see across Alphabet products. 

For a round-up of technology news and analysis, sign up to our weekly Tech Briefing  here.